Method and system for user information verification

ABSTRACT

A system and method for authenticating users based on personal information. The personal information may include age-related data where the users are interested in receiving age-restricted content. The personal information may include an address and a permission request is sent to the address. Biometric information may also be associated with the personal information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/220,869 filed on Jul. 26, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Many people are concerned about a child's ability to receive inappropriate content over the Internet. For example, many web sites display or sell pictures and videos that may not be distributed to minors. Other web sites carry content that, although it may be legally displayed to minors, would still be considered objectionable to many parents.

[0003] To prevent unauthorized access, many web site providers have instituted individual mechanisms to ensure that its web site visitors are of a proper age. For example, many web sites request credit card and birth date information to verify the age of the end user. However, the lack of consistency among such web sites has disadvantaged both content providers and consumers alike. To the extent the web sites request the same information, users find themselves keying in the same information over and over again. To the extent the web sites request different information, the user is plagued with remembering which site requires a particular item of information or deciding whether to disclose such information.

[0004] Moreover, most of these sites are only interested in the visitor's age and are not concerned with whether a parent would or would not give their children permission to visit the site.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system which controls access to web sites by minors, promotes consistency without requiring entry of repetitive information, and which allows parents to participate in the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a system and method of authenticating a user. It includes receiving a request for information from a user and receiving personal information associated with the user which includes an address. A permission request is sent to the address, and the permission request includes a request for permission to provide information to the user. Permission is received, and information is sent to the user in response to the request for information.

[0007] Another aspect of the invention involves a system and method of authenticating the age of a user over a client/server network, wherein the server has content restricted to users older than a particular age. The method includes: storing age data representative of the user's age on a client of the network; after the step of the storing, sending a request to the server for access to the content; receiving a request for the age data in response to the request for access to the content; providing the age data in response to the request for the age data; and gaining access or being denied access to the content dependant upon whether the age data indicates that the user is older than the particular age.

[0008] Yet another aspect of the invention is a system and method involving: receiving a request from the user for access to the content; receiving personal information regarding the user, the personal information including age data representative of the user's age and an e-mail address on the network; if the age data indicates that the user is older than the particular age, then sending an e-mail to the address indicating the request was received; and sending the content to the user if permission is received in response to the e-mail.

[0009] A further aspect of the invention associates and uses biometric information associated with the personal information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of a system of an embodiment of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of a verification program, and its relationship to other components of the system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0012] FIGS. 3A-3C are flowcharts of an embodiment of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 4 is biometric-enabled peripheral which may be used in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, a system 50 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprises a network of computers such as end user personal computer 60 which communicates with web sites 70-72 via Internet 80. Although only a few computers are depicted in FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that a typical system can include a large number of connected computers. Preferably, end user computer 60 is a general purpose computer having all the internal components normally found in a personal computer such as, for example, central processing unit 61, display 62, CD-ROM 63, hard-drive 64, mouse 65, keyboard 66, speakers 67, microphone 68, modem 69 and all of the components used for connecting these elements to one another. End user computer 60 communicates with the Internet 60 via modem 69. End user computer 60 may comprise any device capable of processing instructions and transmitting data to and from humans and other computers, including but not limited to PDA's with wireless connectivity and Internet user terminals. Although CPU 61 is shown as a single processor, the instructions may actually be distributed to a number of different components or processors for execution.

[0015] Web site 70 may reside on any server or other computer capable of connecting with other computers over a network, such as a web server connected to the Internet.

[0016] A program containing data and functions in accordance with the present invention is stored in end user computer 60. Specifically, verification program 100 is stored on hard-drive 64 and executed by processor 61.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, some of the data maintained and manipulated by verification program 100 includes personal information 110. Personal information 110 includes user name 111, password 112, birth date 113, user e-mail address 114, parent e-mail address 115 and credit card information 116. As explained in more detail below, all of this information is provided by the end user of computer 60.

[0018] Verification program 100 also maintains and manipulates data which is not directly provided by the end user even though the values may depend upon events initiated by the user. Specifically, internal data 120 includes first time flag 121, parent confirmation 122 and age cutoff 123. Preferably, personal information 110 and internal data 120 are stored in encrypted form.

[0019] Functionality block 130 contains the routines and procedures which manipulate personal information 110 and internal data 120. These procedures are discussed in more detail below in connection with the operation of the embodiment.

[0020] The verification program 100 preferably takes the form of an executable entity such as a Java applet. A Java applet has the advantage of being executable by various processors on different computer platforms. An applet is conducive to internet-related applications because, among other things, it can be conveniently distributed over the Internet to multiple classes of users. The applet may also be preloaded on a computer before sale to the end user. Java applets are also good vehicles for hiding or exposing data, functions and methods. When an executable Java applet is transmitted in object code form, it can encapsulate its data, i.e., the data contained in the verification program 100 cannot be accessed by external programs unless the program itself grants access to the data. Thus, encapsulation also provides the advantage of maintaining the integrity of the data because the data contained in the verification program may only be modified by calling the functions and procedures of such program. This prevents outside programs or entities from making unauthorized or inadvertent changes to the data. Moreover, the verification program 100 and its data structures are opaque, meaning that external entities do not have knowledge of how data is stored within the verification program. This enables the verification program 100 to protect the sensitive data it contains, such as credit card information 116.

[0021] Verification program 100 is also, preferably, a plug-in to internet browsers such as Microsoft Internet-Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Accordingly, the verification program 100, as is typical with plug-ins, begins execution upon receipt of information from the Internet which is identified (such as by file name extension) as being intended for the verification program.

[0022] One possible operation of the foregoing embodiment is shown in the flow charts illustrated in FIGS. 3A-C. Initially, end user computer 60 logs onto a web site 70 selling age-restricted content (action 310). For example, the web site may be a video retailer selling R-rated movies. In response to receiving a new visitor, web site 70 transmits a file to end user computer 60 via internet 80 (action 312). The file may have the extension “.VER” or the like to indicate that it is a file intended for use by a verification program in accordance with the present invention. The file may contain only a single field, namely how old a person must be in order to view additional pages at web site 70 or to transact business with the web site.

[0023] Because verification program 100 is a Java applet functioning as a plug-in to the user's web browser, the verification program 100 will automatically launch in response to the arrival of the file (action 314). Upon activation of the verification program, functionality block 130 checks to see whether this is the first time the verification program has been executed since its installation (action 316). The program performs this check by calling the CheckFirstTime procedure upon launch of the program. The CheckFirstTime procedure checks the boolean value stored in first time flag 121 of Internal Data 120. If first time flag 121 is set to false, the program proceeds to action 326. If first time flag 121 is set to its default value of true (the value assigned upon installation), the CheckFirstTime procedure calls the GetPersonalInfo procedure.

[0024] If the verification program 100 is being executed for the first time, then verification program 100 asks the end user to input some personal information. Specifically, the GetPersonalInfo procedure displays a form on monitor 62 which requests the end user's name, password, birth date, e-mail address, and, if any, credit card information (action 318). This information is stored in personal information data 110, namely user name 111, password 112, birth date 113, user e-mail address 114, and credit card info 116 respectively. Once stored, the information cannot be changed without the password.

[0025] Once this information is entered, the GetPersonalInfo procedure computes the user's age based upon their birth date and the current date (which is typically available on common operating systems) and compares that age against the age cutoff data 123 contained in internal data 120 of verification program 100 (action 320). If the end user is under the age cutoff, then the GetPersonalInfo procedure requests that the user input the e-mail address of the user's parent. Alternatively, if the e-mail address of the parent is preloaded on the computer, then this information may be automatically filled in. This information is stored in parent e-mail address 115. The GetPersonalInfo procedure then sets first time flag 121 to false.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3B, verification program 100 next transmits a file to web site 70 containing all of the data in personal information data 110 except credit card info 116 (action 330).

[0027] Based on the birth date transmitted by verification program 100, web site 70 determines whether the user is above or below the web site's age cutoff (action 332). If the user is above the site's age cutoff, i.e., the user is old enough, then the user is provided further access to the web site (action 332).

[0028] On the other hand, if the user's age is below the age cutoff, then web site 70 will check its records based on the user name and determine whether this particular user has been to the site before (action 334). If it is the user's first visit to the site, then web site 70 will send an e-mail to the parent e-mail address 115 provided by verification program 100 (action 336). The e-mail will explain that the person having user name 111 has attempted to access content on web site 70, that that content is restricted to users of a particular age, and will ask the parent to permit or deny further access to the web site. Confirmation or denial of permission may be provided in any number of ways. By way of example only, permission may be granted by simply replying to the e-mail, and upon receipt of the e-mail the user name will be extracted from the e-mail so the web site's records can be updated. Alternatively, the e-mail could contain a URL and a special code associated with the child's user name, and the parent must log onto the web site and provide the code in order to grant permission. Regardless of the method of permission confirmation, after the e-mail is sent to the parent's e-mail address, the user will be notified that: parental permission has been requested; further access to the web site 70 is temporarily denied; and the user should try again later after parental permission has been sent (action 340).

[0029] The next time the user accesses the site, the site will know that the user has been to the site before (action 334) and will check if permission was received (action 338). If permission was not received, then web site 70 will repeat the action of transmitting an e-mail to the parent's address requesting permission for the child to access the web site (action 336). In addition, the user will again be directed to a web page stating that further access is denied until permission has been received (action 340).

[0030] If permission was received, then further access will be provided to the web site (action 342).

[0031] The present invention has the further benefit of facilitating electronic commerce. If web site 70 is configured for electronic transactions, there will be no need for the user to key in his or her credit card information in order to complete a transaction. Rather, because web site 70 knows that the user has installed the verification program 100, it will not provide the user with a form for filling in credit card information. Instead, as shown by action 333 of FIG. 3C, web site 70 will send a request to verification program 100 (located on end user computer 60) for credit card information 116. In response to this request, functionality block 130 will call the PromptCreditDisc procedure. This procedure prompts the user for permission to disclose the credit card information stored in personal information data 110. One manner in which PromptCrediDisc may request such permission is to display a dialog box on monitor 62 which lists the credit card info (such as the type of credit card, credit card number and expiration date) and provide the user with three choices: “Send”, “Don't Send”, and “Edit” (action 346). If the user clicks “Edit”, then the program will call the GetPersonalInfo procedure again and provide the user with an opportunity to change the credit information (action 348). After the information is edited, the user will be prompted with the same dialog box as before (action 346).

[0032] If the user clicks “Send”, then functionality block 130 will call the TransmitPersonalInfo procedure again, but this time credit card info 116 will be included with the information sent to web site 70.

[0033] If the user clicks “Don't Send,” then functionality block 130 will call the TransmitPersonalInfo procedure again, but this time it will send a code indicating that the user has refused to provide his or her credit information. Upon receipt of that notification, web site 70 will send the user to the site's standard web page containing a credit card entry form (action 352).

[0034] The present invention provides numerous advantages. It allows parents to restrict in the browsing habits of children without knowing in advance which sites the child is logging on to. Moreover, it allows parents to see what sort of web sites their children are visiting and permit (or deny) access to web sites before the child can proceed further. Indeed, the verification program may prevent the browser from browsing sites which do not support the aforementioned process. In addition, the invention alleviates the need for a user to constantly put in the same information over and over again. To the contrary, personal information is conveyed automatically and credit information is conveyed with a click of a single button.

[0035] The present invention has the further advantage of permitting any number of variations in its implementation. For example, because the program is likely to be installed by a parent on a family computer, verification program 100 may request personal information 110 as soon as the installation is complete (action 318) rather than waiting for the first time the program is executed (action 316). That way, the parent is ensured that the correct information (especially the user's birth date and parent's e-mail address) is being provided. The verification program may also store a list of all web sites which asked the program for the user's personal information. Thus, even if the child terminated the process before an email was sent to the parent, the parent would be able to see a list of the age-restricted sites the child tried to access.

[0036] In addition, Age Cutoff Data 123 could be set by the parent rather than simply relying on a default value. Thus, a parent could adjust the cutoff age upward or downward to reflect the child's maturity.

[0037] The Age Cutoff Data 123 may also include more than a single numeric value. The Age Cutoff Data may have different ages for different classes of information. For example, with respect to web sites that sell movies, the Age Cutoff Data is usually 13 years old for PG-13 rated movies and 17 years old for R-rated movies. However, some children may be ready to watch PG-13 rated movies at 11 years of age and R-rated movies at 15 years of age. One manner of storing such information in Age Cutoff Data 123 would be to use an XML (Extended Markup Language) document that provides different ages for different classes. As long as both the verification program 100 and the web site 70 are using the same syntax for how the XML document is formatted, they can pass more than one age based on more than one criteria. Using the foregoing example, the value contained in Age Cutoff Data 70 may be a string having the value “<movies> <R-rated> 15 </R-rated> <PG-13> 11 </PG-13> </movies>.” This information would be sent to the web site in action 330 of FIG. 3B, so that the web site can compare the contents of the web page to be accessed (such as a web page allowing the purchase of R-rated movies) with the appropriate value of the XML document in the Age Cutoff Data (in this case, the age at which the user is permitted to buy R-Rated movies, i.e., 15 years old). Based on whether or not the age of the child exceeds that value, the child will either be allowed or prevented from purchasing the movie.

[0038] In yet another aspect of the invention, access is not based on age but, rather, some other personal characteristic which can be represented by a value. For example, the verification program may store XML information indicating that the user is not entitled to receive certain categories of content, such as violent movies regardless of the child's age, without parental permission. If so, step 312 would involve the web site transmitting a statement that the site contains violent content, step 330 would involve the verification program indicating that the user cannot review violent content without parental permission and the rest of the process would solicit and check for that permission. The value of personal characteristic can accordingly be any type of value, be it numeric as in the case of age or true/false in the case of the ability to receive violent content (false could also be indicated by failing to mention the characteristic at all in the verification program).

[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, each user of a particular end user computer 60 will have a separate set of personal information 110. In such a case, the user will have to log in with his or her name and password when the browser is launched. The advantage of such a system in that each person will have their own personal information, including birth date 113. Thus, an adult will be able to access age-restricted web sites without encountering the permission-gathering mechanisms confronted by a child. Moreover, because different children typically have different ages, each child will obtain access based on their own age.

[0040] Instead of each web site maintaining its own log of parental permissions, the name of the web site and whether permission is granted may also be stored in parent confirmation data 122. In this embodiment, the parent enters his or her confirmation directly into the verification program, which is stored in internal data 120. This information is sent to web site 170 during action 334. If the site determines (based on parent confirmation data 122) that permission has been granted, then the user will be permitted further access (action 342).

[0041] Preferably, rather than having each user input a user name and password, the end user computer 60 identifies the user and their associated personal information 110 based on their fingerprint or other biometric information. As shown in FIG. 4, mouse 410 contains an area 416 for reading the fingerprint of the person using the mouse. The fingerprint information is used by functionality block 130 to match the personal information 110 with the person operating the mouse. Thus, functionality block 130 will only send information about that person, and no one else, to the web sites 70. The advantage of using such a device is both security, i.e. preventing a child from pretending to be an adult, and ease of use, i.e. the user does not have to input their name and password. Fingerprint reader 416 may also be placed on other parts of the mouse such as buttons 412 or 414.

[0042] Unless stated to the contrary, use of the word “included” herein or any variation thereof, means “including without limitation” and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it.

[0043] Most of the foregoing alternative embodiments are not mutually exclusive, but may be implemented in various combinations to achieve unique advantages. As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the invention as defined by the claims, the foregoing description of the embodiments should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of the invention as defined by the claims. 

In the claims
 1. A method of authenticating a user comprising: receiving a request for information from a user, receiving personal information associated with said user, said personal information including an address, sending a permission request to said address, said permission request including a request for permission to provide information to said user, receiving permission in response to said permission request, and sending information to said user in response to said request for information.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal information includes age data representative of said user's age.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal information includes a user name.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal information includes a category of information which said user is entitled to receive.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said address comprises an e-mail address.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said address is not the e-mail address of said user.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said user is a child and said e-mail address is the child's parent's e-mail address.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal information includes credit card information.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of sending said credit card information back to said user and requesting verification of the accuracy of said credit card information.
 10. The method of claim 8 further comprising prompting said user to provide credit card information if said user does not verify the accuracy of said credit card information.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein said user has the option of not including said credit card information in the personal information received during said step of receiving said personal information.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising prompting said user to provide credit card information if said user opted not to include said credit card information in the personal information received during said step of receiving said personal information.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said user information includes the value of a personal characteristic and said information is restricted to users satisfying a cut-off value of said personal characteristic, and further comprising the step of comparing the value of said personal characteristic with said cut-off value.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said steps of sending and receiving permission are omitted if said value contained in said user information satisfies said cut-off.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal information includes a second address associated with said user, said method further including the step of notifying said user at said second address if said permission was received in response to said permission request.
 16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a notification to said address if another request for information is received from said user before said permission is received.
 17. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sending said permission request is omitted if said permission was received in the past.
 18. A method of authenticating the age of a user over a client/server network wherein said server has content restricted to users older than a particular age, said method comprising the steps of said client: storing age data representative of said user's age on a client of said network, after said step of said storing, sending a request to said server for access to said content, receiving a request for said age data in response to the request for access to said content, providing the age data in response to said request for said age data, gaining access or being denied access to said content dependant upon whether said age data indicates that said user is older than said particular age.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said steps are executed on a processor in a computer operated by said user.
 20. The method of claim 18 further comprising maintaining a log of each request for content.
 21. A method of authenticating a user over a client/server network wherein said server has content restricted to users older than a particular age, said method comprising the steps of said server: receiving a request from said user for access to said content, receiving personal information regarding said user, said personal information including age data representative of said user's age and an e-mail address on said network, if said age data indicates that said user is older than said particular age, then sending an e-mail to said address indicating said request was received, sending said content to said user if permission is received in response to said e-mail.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said respone is an e-mail sent in reply.
 23. A method of authenticating a user comprising: storing personal information regarding said user, said personal information including an e-mail address and a value associated with a personal characteristic, sending a request for access to content restricted to users based on a cut-off associated with said personal characteristic, sending said personal information to the provider of said content, receiving at said e-mail address a request to permit access to said content, said step of receiving being dependant upon a comparison of the value stored in said personal information and said cut-off, and sending the requested content dependant upon whether another user replies to said request to permit access.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said value represents the age of said user and said cut-off represents the age a user must be in order to receive said content.
 25. The method of claim 23 wherein said value of said personal characteristic represents whether a user is entitled to receive a particular category of content and said cut-off represents whether said content is in said category.
 26. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of storing further includes storing a password associated with said personal information, and said method further includes preventing changes to said personal information without entry of said password.
 27. The method of claim ______ wherein said steps of sending and receiving are implemented by a client in a client/server network.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said network is the Internet and said content is requested via a browser.
 29. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of entering a password each time said browser is executed, and wherein said personal information is not sent unless said password is associated with said personal information.
 30. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of storing personal information includes obtaining the age of said user and, if said age is below a particular age, then obtaining and storing said e-mail address.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein said cut-off represents a user's possible age and said particular age corresponds with said cut-off.
 32. The method of claim 23 wherein step of storing said personal information comprises prompting said user to enter said personal information the first time the user send said request for said content.
 33. A method of authenticating the age of a user comprising: storing personal information regarding said user, said personal information including a value associated with a personal characteristic, said personal information further associated with biometric information of said user, inputting biometric information, sending a request for access to content restricted to users based on a cut-off associated with said personal characteristic, sending said personal information to the provider of said content if said inputted biometric information matches the biometric information contained in said personal information, and receiving said content.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein said biometric information comprises a fingerprint.
 35. A system of authenticating a user comprising: a processor, a set of instructions executable by said processor, said instructions including: receiving a request for information from a user; receiving user information associated with said user, said user information including an address; sending a permission request to said address, said permission request including a request for permission to provide information to said user; receiving permission in response to said permission request; and sending information to said user in response to said request for information.
 36. The system of claim 35 wherein said processor and instructions are contained in web server.
 37. The system of claim 36 wherein said set of instructions is a Java applet.
 38. The system of claim 36 wherein said set of instructions is a plug-in to an internet browser.
 39. A system of authenticating a user comprising: a processor for executing instructions, a biometric input device for obtaining information about a user, instructions, said instructions including: storing personal information regarding said user, said personal information including a value associated with a personal characteristic, said personal information further associated with biometric information of said user; inputting biometric information; sending a request for access to content restricted to users based on a cut-off associated with said personal characteristic; sending said personal information to the provider of said content if said inputted biometric information matches the biometric information contained in said personal information; and receiving said content. 